Underreamer.



W. M. KECK.

UNDERREAMER.

APPLICATION'HLED pzc.2,1915. P f t d 0 t 24 1916 v El e `e C 152029727 v n3 sains-sufi; 1. ar/J 37 WITNESS l lg RG' ,g

@j f M 9 A TT ORNE YS.

W. .M. KECK.

UNDERREAMER.

A TTORNEYS.

W. M. KECK.

UNDERREAMER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2. I9I5.

1,202,727. f Mmmm OCI. 24,1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W 'VV/NTOR. BY @awry/4% ATTURNEYS.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. lKIEK, OF COALINGA, CALIFORNIA.

y UNDERREAMER.

.To IN1/710m t may concern:

lie it known that I, 'ILLLUIM. KECK, a citizen ofr the Fnited States, residing at (`oaliuga. in the county of Fresno and State ot' California. have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in lfnderreamers, of which the following isA a specification.

The present invention relates to an underreamer for drilling and reamiug wells below the bottom ot' the well-casing. so that said casing may be easily sunk.

lnasmuch as underreamers of this type must he lowered and raised through the welleasiug. means must be provided for expandiugthe cutters when the same are projected below the bottom of the casing, in order to ream out the well to.,a diameter equal to that of the outside of said casing. and to retract or withdrawthe cutters within the body ot' the reamer to allow the same to pass through the casing. This must be done automatically,

because the entire reamer is suspended in the well by means of a rod or cable. Moreover, the cutters must be positively locked'when in their operative position, and securely supported by the body of the reamer, in order to withstand the strains imposed upon them.

To this end the inventionfhas for its object the provision of an underreamer of simple and sturdy construction, the cutters of which are automatically expanded when the device is dropped below the bottom# of the well casing. and retracted when drawn'up into said casing. and in addition. said cutters are firmly held and locked when in operative position..

In order to comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the underrealner inside the well-casing. showing the cutters retracted. Fig. 1 of the drawings, except that the reamer is projecting below the bottom of thev Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. 2 is similar tol Patented oct'. 24, 1916.

Application tiled December 2, 191. Serial No. 64,739.

the drawings. Fig. G is a transverse sectionA taken in the direction of the arrows on the line 5 2 of Fig. 1 of the drawings. Fig. 7 is a part-sectional elevation, showing the reamer partly withdrawn into the well-casing. the' cutters being unlocked. Fig. S is an elevation.parts broken away, showing the reamer almost entirelywithdrawn into the well-casing. and the cutters partially retracted. Fig. 9 is an elevation of the reamer taken at right angles to Fig. 7 of the drawings. the well-casing being omitted. Fig'. 10 is a part-sectional detail, enlarged, of the key and a portion of the expanding rod. Fig. 11 is a side elevation, enlarged, of one of the cutters. Fig. 12 is a detailed face elevation, enlarged. of one of the cutters and a portion of the body. Figs. 13 and 14 are side and face elevations respectively, enlarged. of one of the trip-blocks. Fig. 15 is a detailed side elevation, enlarged. of the expanding wedge and a portion of the expanding rod.

ln the drawings, the numeral l represents the body of the underreamer, which is substantially cylindrical in form, as shown particularly in Fig. 9, and of a diameter to fit loosely within the well-casing 2, Figs. 1 to 8. At its upper end, this body 1 isprovided with any suitable means for attachment to a cable or rod, not shown in the drawings, as, for example. a tapered screw-thread'. At the lower end of said body there is formed a transverse slot 4. Fig. 9 of the drawings, having its central portion widened as-at 5, Fig. 6 of the drawings. to form shoulders 6.

The reaming cutters 8, Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 of the drawings, are formed with upwardly extending narrowed tongues v9, adapted to lie'within the slot 4 in the body 1. Lateral shoulders 10 on said tongues 9 engage the shoulders G in the slot 4, to limit the the cutting edges 11. The shoulders 15 formed b v the tops of said wide portions are adapted to bear against the llat lower end 16 ot' the body l when the cutters are in the expanded position. as in Figs. and T of the drawings. to provide support for said cutters. ln addition to the support thus` provided. the upper ends ot' the tongues' 9 have semi-circular bearings in the base ot' the slot l. as shown at 1T in Figs 9and 1; ot' the drawings. the purpose olE said semi-circular seats being to provide lirm support `for said cutters at these points in the event of lateral wear in the notch 4 and ou the tongues 9, which would canse said tongues to assume a position indicated bv the dotted lines 18 .pression spring 30 is locatetl.

in Fig. 12 of the drawings.

Fach ot' the cutters S is provided with an inclined inner surface 19. Figs. 11 and 1Q of the drawings. ot' which the upper end is raised, as at 20. and the lower end is depressed between the opposite flared raised guide lugs 19. central longitudinal groove :21 is cut in said surfaces 19 audfltl, as shown in the drawings. A centrally disposed expanding wedge Q2. provided as shown in Figs. 1. L. 7.8. 9 and 17 of the drawings, `with opposite inclined faces 23 having a raised central portion 24. adapted to engage respectively the inclined surfaces 19 and the groove 21 therein. of the cutters 8, is fixed upon the end ot' a slidable expanding rod 25, which extends through an axially disposed bore 2G in the body 1. Said wedge Q2 is also provided at its upper end with cam faces 2T. and at its lower end with a flat point 2S to act as a drill-bit to loosen any material and chips from the sides of the well which wouldv otherwise collect in the center between the cutters and interfere with the proper action of the reamer.

The upper end of the axial bore 26 is enlarged to form a chamber Q9, within which, and surrounding the rod a spiral com- An adiustable collar, shown in Figs. 1. 7 and S of the drawings, as a nut-31 with a lock-nut 31', is provided on the upper end of the rod 25 to take the thrust of said spring 30. It will be seen from the drawings that the spring 30 acts to draw the rod Q5 upward, thus forcing the wedge Q2 between the cutters 8. The wedge faces Q3 coact with the inclined inner faces 19 of said cutters to force the same apart, and bring them into' their expanded or operative position, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. so that the cutting edges 11 bear against the sides of the well, and ream the same out from its original diameter indicated at 32, to' a greater diameter 3Q', to permit the sinking of the casing 2.

The inclination of the interengagng expanding faces 23 and 19 is so slight that no ordinary amount of radial pressure exerted on the exterior surfaces of the cutters 8 is sullicient to move the wedge downward against the compression otl the spring 30. Thus the cutters are securely locked in their expanded position. and cannot be retracted by the reaction ot' the pressureot' their eutting edges against the sides of the well.

)leans for automaticallyreti-acting the cutters is provided as follows ;-'l`he bod l is formed with oppositely disposed upwardly inclined longitudinal grooves 231', Figs. 1. :2. fl. i' and 9 of the drawings, provided with lateral llanges Ill forming guideways 35. 'l`he lower ends ot'fsaid grooves are further depressed. as at It in Figs. 1. :Z and T of the drawings. grooves 33 is loosely mounted, for free sliding movement` a trip-block 3T. Figs. 1, 2. i'. 9. 13 and 14 otl the drawings. provided with lateral flanges 3S adapted to engage the guide-ways 215. and further provided with a transverse slot an exterior raised surface l0. ending at its upper end in a shoulder 11. and interior raised surfaces 42 and 453;

The central expanding rod 25 has extending through it a ixed transverse key 44. Figs. 1. i) and T of the drawings. which also extendsl loosely through a central slot l?) in the body 1 and through the slots 39 in the trip-blocks 3T. This key consists. as shown particularly in Fig. 10 of the drawings, of two iuterengaging wedge members lt and [-ll, the lower one of which' ll'. is provided with spaced lugs 4'6. adapted to hold said member when in locked position'agaiust lat-A eral movement in the expanding rod 25. A bolt LT retains the two wedge members 4l and 14 in vertically expanded position to prevent; up and down movement with respect to the rod Thus the key when assembled is securely locked in position in said rod 25.

When the reamer is pulled'up into the well-cking from the position shown in Fig. Q of the drawings. the shoulders 41 on the trip-blocks 3T engage a collar 48 mounted upon the lower end of the well-casing Q, said collar lS'being preferably formed with a counter-bored lower edge 49. This en gagement 'auses the trip-blocks 3T, the key -lhthe rod 25. and the wedge 22 to remain stationary, while the body 1 with the cutters S moves upward to the position of Fig. 7 of the-drawings. Further movement then permits the lower ends 42 of the blocks 3T to drop into the depressed portions 36 of the grooves 33, thereby freeing the shoulders 41 from engagement with the collar 48. so that the blocks are drawn up into the casing with the body, until the cutters S reach the collar 48.V At this point the engagement of the inclined outer surfaces 9 of said cutters 8 with the collar 48 forces said cutters inward, as shown in full lines in Fig. 8 of the drawings. and in so doing. the inner surfaces 19 of the cutters enga-ge with the in- \\'ithin each ot said` clined faces 2T of the gwedge. 22, and force the saine tlownwartl a slight distanee to draw thehlotlis 25T farther down in their intflined groovesI. thus freeing their outer surfaces` l0 froiii tontatt with t-lie interior of the easing :2. `and to allow the eutters to assun'ie their fully re'traeted or elosed position, shown in hrolv'en lines in saitl lf`ig. S of the tlrawiiigs. in whit'h position the entire deviee ean he drawn through the well-easing 2. as shown in l"ig. l of the drawings.

'l`he reverse of the ahove deserihed operation perniits the` spring JEU to aetuate the wedge 22 for raising the .saint` through the iiietliuiii of tlie-rod :Z5 for opening or expanding the eutters to operative position. l do not wish to liinit niyself to the pa'rt'ieular eonstrut-tion herein deserihed. hut on the eontrary. I wish to elaini the essential printi'plesrof the invention state of the ait will permit.

llaving thus deserihed niy invention what l elaini asnew and desire to proteet hy Letters latent isrl. ln an niiderreaiiier. in eonihination with a hotly portion adaptetl to he passed through the easing of a well and-provided with a transverse slot. a pair of eiitter iiieiiihers` ful-V t-runied in said slot. and having suhstantially tsenii-tylindrieal seats inA the hase thereof. nieans foiautoinatieally expanding said eutters. and devit-es t-oaeting ivitli the well easing for ret rat-ting saitl eutterstoenahle the saine to pass through .said easing.:

L. ln an underreaiiier. in eonihination with a hrdy portion atlaptetl to he passed through thteasing of a well antl providetl with a transverse slot v'in its lower end` a plurality of fuleruni'ed eutter ineiiihers provided with Ashoulders adapted to hea against the lower eiitl of said hotly and iipwartlly exteiitliiig tongues atlaptetl to lie within said slot aiitl having siihstaiitially semi -t'yhndrit-al seats in the hase thereof. ineans fo autoniatit'ally i expanding saitl eutters. aiitl deviees eoaeting with the well easing for retraeting said eiltters to enahlethe saine to p ass through said easing.

il. ln an iiiiderreainer. in t-onihination with a hotly portion adapted to he passed through the easing of a well aiitl provided with a transverse slot in its lower end. a plurality of trutterineinhers having loose pivotal-conneeiion with said hotly and heilig provitled with upwardly extending tongues adapted to lie within said slot and having substantially seni'i-evlindi-ical seats in the` hase thereof. nieans fo' automatically expanding,`

said cutters. and deviees eoaeting with the well easing for retraeting said teutters to enahle the saine. to'pass through said casing.

4. In an underr ainer. in combination with a body portion adapted to be passed through i the casing of a well and provided with a t'ansverse slot and a plurality of pivot-pins as broadly as the veutter nieinhers provitled with shoulders adapted to hear against the lower end of said ht'dy antl upwardly extentliiig tongues adapted to lie within saidslot andhaving suhstantially seniieylindrieal seats in the hase thereof. said tongues having transverse slots therethrough adaptetl to provide loose pivotal t-onneetion with said pins. iiieaus for auttunatieally txpantlingsaid eutters. and devit'est-oaeting with the well easing for retrat'ting said t'utters to eiiahle the sanie to passthroiigh said easing.

5. l'n an uiitlerreanier` in t-onihination with ahody portion adapted tti he passed through the easing of a well antl provitled with a transverse slot aiitl a plurality of 'pivot-pins extending :it-ross said slot. a plurality of eutter nieinhers provided with shoulders adapted to hear against the lower eiitl ot' lsaid hotly aiitl upwardly exteiitliiig tongues' adapted to liev within said slot vantl 'having suhstantially senii-eylindrital sfats in the hast-thereof. said tongues having transverse slots therethrough adapted to provide loose. pivotal t-onneetion with said pins. a spring at-tuated wedge iiieinher having iiieliiietl fares adapted to he inse'ted hetweeii :ind to lngiige .said tllttei' liielilhei's for ailtolkliatit-ally expandii'ig the saine. and deviees eoaeting with the well-easing `for withdrawing .said vwedge to perniit said entiers to he retraeted to pass through said easing.

1'. ln an iiiiderreaiiier. in eoiiihiiiatioii with a hotly portion adapted to he passed through the easing ol` a well. a plurality o l' eutter nienihers fidi-ruined in-the lower end of said hotly. a spring at'tuated wedge iiieiiiher having-inelined faees atlaptetl to he inserted hetween and to eligage said eutters for antoinatieally expanding the saine. said wedge heing furtliei provided with :i lower eutting edge. and devit-es eoaeting with the welleasing for withdrawing said wedge. to per` niit said eutters to he ret `acted to' pass through said easing.

T. ln an iiiitlerreainer. in eoinhinatioii with va hotly adapted tohe passed through the hotly: iiieans for expanding said eutters: and

nieans for retrat-ting said expanding nieans t-oniprising a pair of trip hloeks slidahly niountedlvin said grooves. eaeh of said hloelis heing provided with an outwardly projetting shoulder atlapted to engage the lower end of the well-easing when said hloelt' is wholly within the shallow' portion of its `,f ifroove. aiitl to disengage the saineI when partly within the deep portion thereof; and

eonnecting deviees between said blocks and said expanding means.

ln an underreamei-,-in minibination with a body adapted to be passed through the easing ol a well. and provided with longitudinally disposed grooves in the surt'aee thereof. eaeli of said grooves being formed with a relatively shallow upper portion and a l'elatiye deep lower portion separated therefrom by an abrupt slioiildei'. cutter members pivotally mounted in the lower end of said body: means for expanding said eutters: and means for retraeting said expanding means comprising a trip bloek slidably mounted in eaeh of said grooves, said bloeks being provided with outwardly projeeting shoulders adapte'd to engage the lower end of the well-easingr when said liloelis are wholly within the shallow' portions of said grooves. and to disengage the same when partly within the deep portions thereof; and eonneeting deviees between said blocks and said expanding means.

9. In an underreainer. in eonibination with a body adapted to be passed through the easing of a well. and provided with longitudiiially disposed grooves in the surfaee thereof. eaeli ot' said grooves being formed with a relatively shallow upper portion and a relative deep lower portion separated therefrom by an .abrupt shoulder, cutter members pivotallv mounted in the lower end of said body: means for expanding said cutters; and in ans for retraeting said expanding means. comprising an elongated trip bloelt slidably mounted in eaeh of said grooves. eaeli of said bloeks being provided on *its inner surfaee with bearing faces 'adapted vto follow the bottom of its groove,

and on its outer surfaee with an outwardly projecting shoulder adapted to engage the lower end of the well-easing when said inner hearing fat-es lie in the shallow portion of said groove. and to disengage the saine when partly within the deep portion thereof: and eoniieeting devices between said bloeks and said expanding means.

10. In an underreainer. in combination witlra bod adapted to be passed through the casing of a well. and provided with longitudinally disposed grooves in the surfaee provided on their inner surfaces with spaced raised bearing faces adapted to follow the bottom of said grooves. and on their outer surfaces with outwardly projecting shoulders adapted to engage the lower end of the well-easing when said winner bearing faces lie in the shallow portions of said grooves,`

ll. ,ln an!underreainer. in rcombination with a body poi-tion adaptedfto be passed tlirongli the easing ot' a well and having .a pair ol oppositely disposed longitudinal slots in the surt'aee thereof. a pair of eut-` ter inenilfersfl'iileriiiiied in the lower end of said body. a wedge nieiiiber :idapted to be inserted between said"eutters to expand the same. said wei-lge .being carried by a loiigitudiiial sliding rod having a transverse slot foi'iiied therein. and riiieans for eontrolling the movementol'said rod eoniprising a pair of trip-bloelts slidably mounted within the grooves in said body, said blocks being provided willi transverse slots therethrough and exterior shouldersiadapted` to engage the lower end ofk the well-easing. and a transverse hey tixed in the slot' in said sliding red and engaging with`the transverse slots in said bhelts. said ltey.comprising a pair of iiitereiigaging wedge ineiiibeisone of whieh is provided with spared lugs adapted to lie on either side ol' said rod topreveiit lateral movement of thelce v-with respeetthereto.

and means for loekingsaid `wedge members in position;

l2. ln an underreaiiier. in t'oinbinationr `with a body portion adapted tobe passed saine. said wedge being earried by a longitudinal sliding rod having a transverse slot;`

formed tlieieiii.'and means for controlling the movement ot' said rod eoniprisiiig a pair of trip-bloeks slidablymounted within the f grooves in said body. said bloelts being provided `w.itli traiisversey slots therethrough and exterior shoulders' adapted to engagetlie lower endlofthe well-easing. and a transverse key @'lx'ed in the slot in said sliding rod and engaging witlrthe transverse Slots in saidbloelts. said keyeoinprising a pair of interengaging wedge. members one of whieh is provided with spaced lugs adapted to lie on either side of said rod to prevent lateral movement of the key with respect thereto. and a bolt lying intlieplane of eontaet of the interengaging faces of said wedge ineinbers for retaining the sinne in their respective positions.

13. In an; underreainei",` 1in combination.

withy a `body portion adapted to-be passed through tliefeasing of avwelland provided with a transverse slot in its lower end, u pluprovided with a lower cutting edge. and de-k vices eoacting with the well-casing for withdrawing said wedge to permit said cutters to be retracted to pass through sa-id casing.

1l. In an umlerreamer. in combination with a bodyportion adapted to be passed through the easing' of a well and provided with a transverse slot in its lower end and a plurality of inclined longitudinal grooves inthe surface thereof. a plurality of cutter members having loose pivotal connection within said transverse slot` and being provided with upwardly extending tonguesv adapted to lie within said slot and having substantially semi-cylindrical seats in the base thereof. a lspring actuated wedge member having inclined faces adapted tobe inserted between and toengage said cutters for automatically expanding the same. said wedge being further provided with a lower cutting edge, and devices for retracting said cutters comprising a plurality of tripblocks slidably mounted in said longitudinal grooves and adapted to engage the bottom of the well easing. and connecting devices between said blocks and said wedge member.

15. In an underreamer, in combination with a body portion adapted to be passedv through the casing of a well and having inclined longitudinally disposed grooves in the surface thereof, cutter members pivotally mounted in the lower end of said body portion, means for expanding said cut-ters, and means for retracting said expanding means comprising trip blocks slidably mounted in said grooves, said blocks being provided with outwardly projecting shoulders adapted to engage the lower end of the well-casing, and with elongated longitudinal exterior surfaces below said shoulders adapted to bear against the interior of said well-casing when the reamer is passed therethrough, and connecting devices between said blocks and said expanding means.

16'. In an underreamer, in combination with a body portion adapted to be passed through the casing of, a well and having inclined longitudinally disposed grooves in the surface thereof, cutter members pivotally mounted in the lower end of said b ody portion, means for expanding said outtersv and means for retracting said expanding means comprising trlp blocks shdably lmounted in said grooves, said blocks being provided with relatively thin upper portions adapted to enter the well-casing and ybear against the sides thereof, with outwardly projecting shoulders adapted to engage the lower end of said well-casing, and with elongated longitudinal exterior surfaces below said shoulders adapted to bear against the interior of .said well casing when the reamer is passed theretln-ough, and connecting devices between said blocks and said expanding means.

1T. In an underreamer, the combination with aA bored body adapted to be passed through the casing of a well. of cutter members pivotally mounted within the lower end of said body and provided with inner bearing surfaces, a spring held expanding member movable between said cutter members and provided with outer bearing surfaces adapted to coact with the bearing surfaces of said members for the expansion thereof on `the inward movement of the expanding member and further provided at its upper end portion with inwardly inclined camsurfaces for engagement with the cutter members on the final closing movement thereof, a trip member slidable on the body of the underreamer for engagement with the bottom of the well casing to force outwardly the expanding member on the inward movement of the underreamer within the well casing, and connection between the tripmember and the expanding member for actuating the wedge member and moving the trip member free of contact withthe inner wall surface of the well casing through the action of the cutter members on the cam surfaces of the wedge member during the final closing movement of said cutting members.

18. In an underreamer, the combination with a bored body adapted to be passed through awell casing, of cutter members pivoted within the lower end portion ofsaid body for swinging movement and provided on their inner faces with inwardly inclined bearing surfaces and further provided at their Vupper end portions with inwardlyinclined cam surfaces, av spring held wedge member movable between the cutter members and provided with inclined bearing surfaces -and further provided at its inner end with vwith inwardly inclined cam surfaces, an expanding member movable between the cutter members and provided with bearing surfaces which co-:ict with' thv honring surfaces nf tht` 'name tu this spccifivntionin the prcscntc of` vuttor mvmhors -und t'm'tlioiplm'iihwl with two subscribing 'itnvsscs.`

t-:iln surt'mos fm* wmctinn with the mun i 1ll'- XVII I \\I \I I' L \E 1X. tacos nt Suhl cutter mvmhors. :nul moans 0:11'- l (j rind b v tht` hotly nt' tht` untlpi'rt-:mwr t'mnc- 'itnesses: hinting smul expanding nwmbcl'. Joux TAYLOR, In tvstnnuny whclcut' 1 have signcd in v J. KlLur Copies of, this patent may be obtained for e cents each, by nddxexsilg the "Commissioner o! Intent. Washingtonv D. C. 

